United States Air and Radiation EPA420-F-99-003
Environmental Protection February 1999
Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
&EPA Environmental
Fact Sheet
The Congestion Mitigation and Air
Quality Improvement Program
(CMAQ)
The Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) Improvement
Program provides federal transportation funds to support state and local
projects that reduce transportation related air pollution. It was reautho-
rized by the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21) to
fund projects that initiate or expand transportation related infrastructure
and services with air quality benefits. The U.S. Department of Transpor-
tation (DOT) administers the program, in consultation with the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), under flexible guidelines.
These projects include both traditional and non-traditional highway and
transit projects. Examples of non-traditional projects include marketing
and outreach to reduce driving, reduced fare programs to encourage
transit use, transportation demand management programs, and programs
to increase the use of clean alternatively-fueled vehicles. The highest
priority for CMAQ funds are transportation control measures (TCMs)
identified in approved State Implementation Plans (SIPs).
CMAQ projects compliment many of the more traditional strategies for
reducing air pollution from transportation sources. Traditionally, states
and local governments have relied on technological control measures to
reduce air pollution and attain the air quality standards. Industrial pro-
cesses with significantly lower emission levels, cleaner exhaust emis-
sions from vehicles, and lower evaporative emissions from fuels have
resulted in cleaner air in many cities. Yet the increase in the number of
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vehicle miles traveled (VMT) in recent
years counteracts these gains and may slow
progress toward achieving healthy air.
Strategies to reduce VMT and reduce
congestion in order to make travel less
polluting are increasingly viewed as inte-
gral components of sustainable air quality
plans.
the
TEA-21 provides for as much as $8.1
billion for the CMAQ program from 1998
through 2003. The funds are apportioned to
the states annually, based upon a legislated
formula, with each state guaranteed
0.5% and the rest apportioned on the basis
of population and the severity of the air
pollution in ozone and carbon monoxide
nonattainment and maintenance areas. As
with most of the federal transportation
programs, a state or local match of funds is
required.
Two project eligibility requirements apply
to the CMAQ program. First, the money
must be spent on projects which reduce
ozone, carbon monoxide, or PM-10 from
transportation sources. Second, the money
must be used in nonattainment or mainte-
nance areas, if one exists within the state. It
is important to note that nonattainment and
maintenance areas for PM-10 are eligible
to receive CMAQ funds, even though these
areas are not included in the CMAQ appor-
tionment formula. The state is responsible
for distribution of funds among multiple
nonattainment areas. If the state does not
have an ozone or carbon monoxide
nonattainment or maintenance area, the
funds may be used anywhere in the state
for any activity eligible under the CMAQ
or Surface Transportation Programs.
However, in these cases, if a PM-10 area
exists, funding projects that address trans-
portation-related particulate matter is
encouraged.
of are
for
Because of the program's high degree of
flexibility, CMAQ projects can vary greatly
from area to area. However, there are some
common characteristics, due to the
program's focus on air quality. Generally,
CMAQ projects are developed through a
coordinated planning process and target the
pollutants for which the area is in
nonattainment or maintenance. CMAQ
projects can usually be classified in one of
the following categories:
• Travel Demand Management Strategies
• Transit Improvements
• Shared Ride Services
• Traffic Flow Improvements
• Pedestrian and Bicycle Programs
These broad categories provide wide-
ranging flexibility and can support specific
projects that vary greatly in design, scope,
and implementation. The categories are not
intended to be exclusive; other activities,
such as public education and outreach
programs and the conversion of vehicle
fleets to clean alternative fuels, are also
eligible.
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CMAQ programs are coordinated through
an urban area's lead transportation plan-
ning organization. Usually this is an area's
regional council or association of govern-
ments, known as a Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO). MPOs have broad
responsibility in developing an area's long-
range Transportation Plan and Transporta-
tion Improvement Program (TIP). MPOs
typically work with the state air quality
agency to develop the State Implementa-
tion Plan (SIP) for air quality.
Any individual or organization can develop
a formal proposal and submit it to the MPO
for consideration. Examples include trans-
portation management associations, transit
operators, local or state government trans-
portation or environmental departments, or
simply a neighborhood group. The MPO,
and in some cases the state, evaluates the
proposal in consultation with state and
local air quality agencies to determine if
the proposal supports the area's air quality
needs and should be included in the long
range transportation plan and TIP. A list of
projects from the transportation plan,
including specific CMAQ projects based
on priorities and available CMAQ funds,
are subsequently included in the next TIP.
The inclusion of any specific CMAQ
project in the TIP is more likely if the
project has support from other interested
parties (transit operators, air quality agen-
cies, local government representatives,
etc.).
The new amended TIP is approved by the
MPO and sent to the governor for state
approval. CMAQ projects are then selected
for implementation from the approved TIP
and are submitted to the Federal Highway
Administration or the Federal Transit
Administration, as appropriate, for final
approval and authorization to proceed.
CMAQ funds are obligated for each sub-
mitted project when it receives this final
approval. When CMAQ funds are obligated
to a project, the state can then draw on the
funds for reimbursement of expenses
incurred for that specific project.
For
For more information about the CMAQ
program, you may contact:
• Your local Metropolitan Planning Orga-
nization
• Your State Department of Transportation
« The U. S. Department of Transportation
- Federal Highway Administration,
State Division Offices
- Federal Transit Administration,
Regional Offices
- The U.S. EPA Regional Offices
or:
Mark E. Simons
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Office of Mobile Sources
2000 Traverwood Drive
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
Phone:(734)214-4420
Fax:(734)214-4052
E-mail: simons.mark@epa.gov
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